#celebratelit

CelebrateLit Blog Tour & Giveaway: Rahab’s Courage by Naomi Craig

About the Book

Title: Rahab’s Courage
Author: Naomi Craig
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Release date: August 17, 2021

A scarlet cord tethers one ruined woman to the salvation of mankind.

Harboring two fugitives in a city slated for destruction, Rahab has one small chance of escape. In exchange for their safety, she bargains for her own. Their agreement rewards her courage, and she flees Jericho and a life of prostitution for a new life among the people of Israel. Never again will she have to depend on anyone—especially men.

Except Salmah won’t take the hint.

High ranking soldier and leader of the tribe of Judah, Salmah is determined not to repeat his parents’ mistakes. He will keep the Lord’s commandments. Rahab’s growing faith fits right in with phase one of his plans: find a wife who loves the Lord and settle down in the new land.

Rahab finds shelter and meaning in the Lord’s ways until her past comes back to haunt her. As her new faith is put to test, she finds herself alone. Isn’t that what she’d always wanted?

With her courage waning, only the Lord can turn Rahab’s life around again, but will He do it before she loses everyone and everything that really matters to her—to her heart?

Click here to get your copy! (Also available on Kindle Unlimited)

About the Author

Hi, I’m Naomi.

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, Pastor’s wife, and mom to an amazing young lady. I love reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time.

When I’m not serving in various areas at church, homeschooling my daughter or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you’ll most likely find me enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee.

Throughout my years in ministry, I’ve learned this:

Life is hard. God is still good.

My goal is to walk alongside you and offer support. Because you are not alone.

You have value, even when you are feeling overwhelmed. You are an amazing work of art! You are loved and you belong.

Connect with Naomi: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

My Review

Rahab’s Courage
by Naomi Craig
Book 1 in Yahweh’s Legacy series
Rating: 4.5/5

“Shame has no place if you have been claimed by love.”

Wow. I know I start a lot of reviews with that word but it’s true. This is a WOW story. I’ve always appreciated the story of Rahab and her courage at trusting the God of the Israelites, but this book put so much more into perspective. This book illustrated some of the struggles and prejudices Rahab endured at the hand of the people who should have accepted her. The anguish and the shame she experienced because of her past was not a convenient obstacle for her. She chose to trust but still struggled to see herself the way Yahweh did. I also got so frustrated at Salmah for his pride and arrogance when he was not demonstrating the love and forgiveness of God. I really liked how the author was not afraid to delve into post-traumatic stress and how Rahab had to deal with her past trauma.

The message of hope is harder to read in the Old Testament with the Law, but the hope and forgiveness of the Gospel is still evident in this story. Dealing with past trauma is necessary but not easy and the author highlights the struggle in a very authentic way. Rahab’s story in the Bible is relatively short, so I loved how the author wove a tale that was relatable and heart-wrenching but still spoke of God’s love and healing.

“You were called by name to be a part of Israel because Yahweh has a purpose for you. A purpose no trial or man can diminish.”

PG-13 content. As Rahab was a harlot, this story addresses prostitution, rape, and post-traumatic stress.

Highly recommend this book if you enjoy Biblical fiction that isn’t afraid to address racial and social prejudices and post-traumatic stress.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Naomi

Matthew 1:4b-6a (NKJV)

Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

On the brink of war and conquering the Promised Land, The Israelites stand fierce and determined, ready to see God’s victory. This time they will not waiver. This time, obedience will be their theme. But it wasn’t always that the Israelites stood with resolve as strong as Jericho’s impenetrable walls.

Rewind forty years. The Israelites have just been delivered from slavery in Egypt. 12 spies were sent into the land and brought back a good report. There were bountiful crops peace and giants.

Nahshon, as the leader of Judah (Numbers 2:3), should have been influential in his tribe’s decision to trust the Lord—especially since Caleb one of the two who trusted, was from Judah. Yet nobody believed. They all grumbled. So instead of what should have been a quick journey, it took forty years.

And the entire generation couldn’t enjoy the benefits of trusting God and His promise.

Enter Salmah.

He sees the penalty of his father’s disobedience. It shapes his life he adheres to the ways of the Lord. Plague after disobedience hardens his resolve. He will obey the laws of the Lord so it will go well with him in the new land.

So what is a man with this moral stature doing with a Canaanite? A harlot? Every sordid detail that makes up Rahab goes against his moral fiber.

But faith.

Faith that was spoken about all the way into the New Testament. Rahab steps out in sacrificial faith to a God she doesn’t yet know, for strangers who have no reason to trust her.

As such, the Lord honored her faith. As He does when you and I step out on that limb because we’ve felt that stirring in our soul.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Not only did the Lord spread His mantle of protection over Rahab, He also saw fit to include her in the lineage of His Son, Jesus.

Rahab’s Courage is a love story. A story of stepping out in faith. Of changing expectations of yourself and others. Of how the Lord can redeem and use any who are willing to put off the old and become that new creation.

***The scripture is clear that Rahab is a harlot. Due to the nature of this life, this story addresses prostitution, rape, and post traumatic stress. Please use caution with younger readers and if these subjects would act as a trigger for you. If Rahab’s Courage was a movie, it would have a rating of PG-13.

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, August 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 13

Inside the Wong Mind, August 14

Inklings and notions, August 14

For Him and My Family, August 15

Breny and Books, August 15

lakesidelivingsite, August 16

She Lives to Read, August 17

Boondock Ramblings, August 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 18

Betti Mace, August 19

Texas Book-aholic, August 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20

deb’s Book Review, August 21

Cats in the Cradle Blog , August 21

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 22

Through the fire blogs, August 22

Connie’s History Classroom, August 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 24

Labor Not in Vain, August 24

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 25

Back Porch Reads, August 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/11419/rahab-s-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway

August 14, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

CelebrateLit Epic Book Launch: A Warrior’s Heart by Misty M. Beller

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

About the Book

Book: A Warrior’s Heart
Series: Brides of Laurent Book #1
Author: Misty M. Beller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: August 31, 2021

Brielle Durand still feels haunted by the massacre that killed her mother a dozen years before. Vowing to never let it happen again, she’s risen to be the key defender for her people’s peace-loving French settlement living in hidden caves in the Canadian Rockies. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way and insists he can be trusted?

Hoping to escape past regrets, Evan MacManus ventured into the unknown, assigned to discover if the northern mountains contain an explosive mineral that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on the promise he’s made to his government or take a risk on the path his heart is leading him down? Either choice will cause harm to someone.

Brielle and Evan must reconcile the warring in their hearts, if they’ve any hope to find the peace the seek.

BOOK EXCERPT FOUR

He could investigate which tribe had made the weapon later. If he survived this attack. At the moment, he had to find a way to ensure he didn’t get a more personal introduction to whoever shot him.

No movement flashed in the morning light beyond the trees. Only a cluster of scraggly bushes marked the other side of the trail. But the warrior had likely been shooting from farther ahead, maybe even from the bend in the path, where the bases of two mountains met to form a narrow opening between them. The gap created a natural gateway where an enemy could find cover and wait.

A spasm seized Evan, doubling him over as he fought to stifle a groan. He had to keep breathing, or this lightness in his head would take over.

“To the ground. Now,” barked a voice behind him. The tone held an accent, but not any Indian tongue he’d ever heard.

Evan twisted, biting back a grunt as he tried to focus his wavering vision on the figure standing not five strides behind his horse, bow and arrow at the ready. He had no doubt that second arrow would find its way into his flesh if he didn’t obey the order.

MISSED ANY EXCERPTS, GO HERE:

Excerpt One
Excerpt Two
Excerpt Three
Excerpt Four (mine)
Excerpt Five
Excerpt Six
Excerpt Seven

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Connect with Misty: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub

August 12, 2021 by Kim Spotlight

CelebrateLit Review & Blog Tour Giveaway: Shadow by Kara Swanson

About the Book

Book: Shadow (Heirs of Neverland #2)
Author: Kara Swanson
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Release date: July 13, 2021

Peter Pan has crash-landed back on Neverland. But this is not the island he remembers.

Desperate to rescue Claire and the fractured Lost Boys, Peter must unravel what truly tore his dreamland apart. But with each step, he is haunted by more of his own broken memories. Not even Pan himself is what he seems.

Claire Kenton is chained to a pirate ship, watching the wreckage of Neverland rocked by tempests. When she finally finds her brother, Connor is every bit as shattered as the island. Claire may have pixie dust flowing in her veins—but the light of Neverland is flickering dangerously close to going out forever.

To rescue Neverland from the inescapable shadow, the boy who never grew up and the girl who grew up too fast will have to sacrifice the only thing they have left: each other.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

As the daughter of missionaries, Kara Swanson spent her childhood running barefoot through the lush jungles of Papua New Guinea. Able to relate with characters dropped into a unique new world, she quickly fell in love with the fantasy genre. The award-winning author of The Girl Who Could See, Kara is passionate about crafting stories of light shattering darkness, connecting with readers, and becoming best friends with a mermaid—though not necessarily in that order. Kara chats about coffee, fairytales and bookish things online (@karaswansonauthor) and at karaswanson.com.

My Review

Shadow
by Kara Swanson
Book 2 in the Heirs of Neverland
Rating: 4.5/5

Wow. This story was nonstop in the adventure in Neverland. Reading the first book, Dust, is probably necessary to understand what’s happening. The author’s use of imagination and creativity just screams from the manuscript (or literally, since I listened to the audiobook borrowed from the library). The perspectives go back and forth between Peter and Claire. Peter is desperate to save Claire while Claire is desperate to save her brother Connor. Darkness and shadow have crept up in Neverland and Peter and the Lost Boys with some other familiar friends are trying their best to keep Neverland from disappearing.

The first book, Dust, started a bit slow for my liking but this second (and final) installment started right where we left off (when it was just getting really good). I liked seeing the character development and delving into Peter’s past and how he created Neverland. I loved how the author was not afraid to address the darker subjects and inner turmoil that we all have to eventually face. Reading the author’s thoughts at the end made me like the story even more – in light of the past year we’ve experienced with COVID, we still must go on. We have to allow ourselves the space to heal.

Highly recommend if you enjoy revisiting Peter Pan’s adventures in Neverland with some romance and lots of action and pixie dust. I also highly recommend listening to the audiobook – it is excellent.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More from Kara

One of my favorite CS Lewis quotes is this:

“Some day you’ll be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

There’s something subtly profound about the idea that the very stories which captivate our imagination and shape our perspective on good and evil as children, will reveal more gems when we return to them later. When we’ve conquered some dragons of our own.

This was especially true when I write my Peter Pan retelling duology Dust and Shadow. These YA novels literally return to a fairy tale. I took a familiar story and dug even deeper, pushing Peter himself to grow a little more and see what new bits of pixie dust and hope there may be in a familiar story.

But there is another reason why our hearts gravitate toward fairy tales.

I think GK Chesterton put it brilliantly in a quote that is actually at the very front of Shadow:

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”

Because maybe even more than being reminded of the whimsy of a fairy, we need the reminder that even in a world filled with dragons – they can be killed.

We can conquer.

And that simple truth, told a hundred different ways, will always lift our hearts and our chins.

Shadow was not an easy book to write – and it is not a particularly lighthearted tale. It is raw and vulnerable and at times lives up to it’s title in some darker moments. But there is always a sense of courage there too. A reminder that even in the shadowed places, the valleys, the instances that steal our breath and twist our hearts and make us wonder if all is lost –

There is another page to turn. Another step to take.

We are not finished.

No matter how young we are, we can strap on our armor, lift our swords, and fight for the light.

We are not overcome because our strength does not come from us.

It comes from our King.

And in the end, He will make all wrongs right, and there will be a happy ending to our tale, even if it may not be the ending we expect.

Because it may not be easy to slay the dragon, but as the fairy tales do remind us –

The important thing is that they can be slain.

Blog Stops

Babbling Beck L’s Book Impressions, July 31
Inside the Wong Mind, July 31
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 31
The Write Escape, August 1
Remembrancy, August 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 2
Connect in Fiction, August 2
Blossoms and Blessings, August 2
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 3
Texas Book-aholic, August 3
Where Faith and Books Meet, August 4
Losing the Busyness, August
For the Love of Literature, August 4
Worthy2Read, August 5
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, August 5
Wishful Endings, August 5
Inklings and notions, August 6
Mia Reads, August 6
For Him and My Family, August 7
Sodbusterliving, August 7
Mary Hake, August 7
deb’s Book Review, August 8
Nancy E Wood, August 8
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 9
Through the Fire Blogs, August 10
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 10
Artistic Nobody, August 10 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 11
Cats in the Cradle Blog, August 11
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 12
Simple Harvest Reads, August 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
The Book Chic Blog, August 12
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 13
Labor Not in Vain, August 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kara Swanson is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/110e4/shadow-celebration-tour-giveaway

July 31, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Inside the Wong Mind: Reading is my therapy

Hello. This blog is all mine and I will do my best to post what interests me and what books I read with honest reviews. I am a lover of good Christian fiction with a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue, humor, fun, etc. I invite you to join me as I read my way through books and life. I am currently pursuing my residency training as a family medicine physician!!! I have to carefully choose what I want to read for fun. My name is Kim and you are entering the Wong Mind.